Flottningsmuseet i Dyvelsten: Preserving history through aemulatio

Abstract

For over a century, the timber rafting industry shaped Sweden’s river networks, bringing with it a built environment. When the industry ceased in 1991, these buildings, including the Dyvelsten timber rafting museum in Värmland, Sweden, were no longer needed. Initially built in 1950 as a workshop, the building was converted into a museum, but lacked the necessary architectural modifications to suit its new function. This thesis explores how architectural interventions can revitalize the building and reinforce its historical narrative while ensuring its continued role as a cultural and educational space. Supported by adaptive reuse theories, the thesis applies a method by Cleempoel & Plevoets called aemulatio, which integrates past design principles into contemporary additions to maintain continuity in the architectural fabric. Rather than recreating the past, aemulatio improves upon the original model, enhancing the existing character. This thesis develops a transferable framework for applying aemulatio to adaptive reuse projects involving industrial heritage sites. The framework consists of three phases: analysis, synthesis and design proposal. The analysis phase examines key objects and structures of the timber rafting industry from historical, technical and functional perspectives. Research documents the building’s past and present conditions through site visits, archival materials and visualizations. This provides a comprehensive understanding of the building’s context and relationship to the industry. The synthesis phase identifies key characteristics of these objects and structures. These findings reveal the original intent and design language, informing interventions that preserve and enhance the building while adapting it for contemporary use. The resulting proposal revitalizes the museum, preserving its role as a cultural space while incorporating interventions to meet its functional needs. Through thoughtful additions and subtractions, the outcome balances preservation and transformation. Interventions create a dialogue between the old and new, blurring boundaries between past and present. By safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage, the project ensures that the museum remains a lasting record of the collective memory of timber rafting in the region.